"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future," Jeremiah 29:11 (Bible).
I believe these promises of God concerning me. Who am I? I'm an imperfect vessel who has found grace in God's sight. I like to help and encourage others. I am learning to put faith and love into action. Welcome to my blog. Let's learn together!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

There is a place for personal worship and there is a place for corporate worship. We are counselled not to forsake the gathering of other Christians. That is, don't shirk corporate worship!
Here are 6 reasons why it is important to go to church (shared by Pastor Ovie of Christ Embassy Church, Lafia):
1. To fellowship with the brethren and fellowship with God through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit.
2. To receive instructions in righteousness.
3. To receive information in the Kingdom. These are informations that will take us to the next level.
4. To be strengthened in the inner man.
5. To worship God in psalms, hymns, with our substance.
6. We come to church to receive cleansing, by the utterance of the Word and the ministration during service.
I'll add: going to church should be an experience, not a task or another activity we just check-off our to-do lists.
Are you going to church today? Go with an expectation. God will not fail you!
Shalom.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

1. Love and honour your mother. Learn from her mistakes. It will save you a lot of headache in your thirties (30s) and beyond.

2. You are more talented than you'll ever know. You don't need to sleep with your Boss/supervisor to get a promotion at work or better grades at school. Burn late night candles, put extra time to study and practice until you master your skill. Hard work still pays well.

3. Women can build a strong support network. Don't let few ladies with "Pull Her Down" syndrome discourage you from cultivating true relationship with your female friends.

4. When a man you meet for the first time babbles about how much he earns working for an oil company and how rich he is, that is a red flag. He is either a married smooth-talker who just wants to sleep with you or he is childish. Walk away from deceit.

5. Make your own money. Start small. Maintain a stable bank account. It will keep you out of trouble.

6. When you meet your Soulmate, don't forget to wear your most priceless ornament- submission and humility. But while waiting for him, don't cling to any man to rescue you. Some men these days are also seeking for who will rescue them.

7. Know your body. Look at yourself in front of a full-length mirror at least once a week, naked and after clothed. Know your body and how it works.

8. Life is a gift. But to revel in it, you must be ready to put a lot into nurturing your gifts/talents and skills. Start early.

9. Teenage ended at 19. Clocking 20 means doing away with childish behaviour. But it does not mean you should forget to have fun.

10. Learn the basic skills and let yourself grow- from how to keep your underwear clean, cook, socialize, and network to how to drive a car.

11. Don't do drugs. It kills. Read books, its fortifies. Dance as often as you can, it liberates your spirit, soul and body.

12. Learn to laugh at yourself. It is a good way to build a healthy self-esteem.

13. Eat healthy. Learn to cook for yourself. Don't rely on noodles alone. The cooking skill will be useful in future.

14. Don't give up when you fail. Try again. And again. Then, try another legit way. Don't give up on education/learning.

15. Fear of the future is just that- a fear. It is a state of mind you must learn to tame. Don't let fear pull the carpet from under your feet. The Holy Bible tells us that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

16. Let go of past hurts. You cannot move forward if you keep looking back. Holding on to bitter experiences and regrets will stale your future.

17. Learn to exhale, love deeply and be kind to others, especially those of low estate, and the lowest of low.

18. You are beautiful the way you are. Don't compare yourself to others.

19. Partnership builds bridges. Don't ever forget that.

20. Prayer is the master key. Have faith in God and always have the courage to use your voice wisely. Dream bigger.

Bonus: Enjoy the highs and lows that come with being in your 20s but don't be afraid to grow older. Live life to the fullest and don't forget to smile! ___________________________

Saturday, September 14, 2013

An excellent woman is a near- or perfect woman in all things. She learns through life as she grows.

Proverbs 31:29

-- Praising an excellent woman is not a right and it does not come early. Note Proverbs 31:11-12 came before Proverbs 31:29.

-- An excellent woman is a planner. Proverbs 31:15 When you plan well, you will not be busy and guilty at the same time. Your role as daughter, sister, wife, mother, business woman etc will not clash. When it does, you'll have the wisdom to handle it right.

-- Being an excellent woman is not about the money.

-- Being an excellent woman is not automaric. You must be determined. Proverbs 31:16

-- An excellent woman is humble, irrespective of her background. She does not look down on her husband. Proverbs 31:23.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

I have been mulling over Romans 12:1 for a while now. That is because I got a very fresh perspective on the verse.
Growing up, I've always been told to abstain from pre-marital sex. As a matter of fact, I did ask those who gave the advice why many times ;-) That is a story for another day. But as I mature in the things of faith, I'm begining to understand these issues from a fresh perspective.
Abstaining from all forms of sexual immorality- pre-martial sex/fornication, adultery, philandering and it likes will save us a lot of heartaches. We won't be exposed to all manners of sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Have you seen the statistics lately? Abstinence will also give us rest of mind. We won't need to look-over our shoulders or frantically clean up traces to fake a reputation. Most importantly, abstinence from sexual immorality is our way of showing gratitude to God for His unending love and mercy towards us.
Abstinence is not false purity. Trust me, it appears harder these days because it has become almost a norm to be sexually active outside marriage. It is hard when you are sorrounded by the seeming "glory" of temptation and pleasures of sin. But what is a 3 minute of pleasure compared to an immeasurable consecrated lifestyle that honors God? When God says He will honor those who honor Him, He will! Yes, He sees the sacrifices we make. He does honor!
Here is how 'the woman's study bible' captures it: The believer is not to be modeled by the pressures of the sinful world. We are to experience a transformation, a new way of thinking made possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
When next you are face to face with a lure to bend over for a few minutes of pleasure, run! Don't stand and expect to fight it down. Ask Joseph :-) He'll tell you same thing- run, flee! (Genesis 39:6-12). Joseph honored God and he (Joseph) was elevated. Ask any historian the pivotal role Joseph played in Israel's prosperity. So you see, that act positions you for trans-generational manifestation. But don't get me wrong, this is not a way to bribe God, condemn others or try to appear holier than thou. It is a lifestyle. Your business.
Abstinence from all forms of sexual immorality is a GREAT way to worship God. It HONORS Him.
See Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; Genesis 39:6-12.
Some of us might have fallen short. But today is a great day to start afresh! Pray for forgiveness and ask God for the enabling grace to honor Him with all of you. When we repent, it means consciously retracing our steps and following a new direction. Don't allow anyone or anything pull you back to the old habits.
It is possible to abstain from sex if you are not married. It is possible to be faithful to ONE partner if you are married. It is a conscious decision we have to make. Don't deny yourself the opportunity to express your gratitude by honoring God with your body, revel in Him!
"...Lust is lost.
But he'll return
and find no room
in my cleansed robe.
No viper in my bosom.
My crown is restored unto honor.
Lushly virtuous,
and at peace, I am royalty."
I write this to you as I write it to myself. Life is learning and growing.
Praise God!

Sunday, September 1, 2013

I was scrolling through my FaceBook timeline this morning when updates from The Father's House page caught my attention.

Friends, the topic that was being preached was titled, "The Great Commission (Evangelism)." As I read through the different posts on the main page, I realized how similar it was to what was preached at Christ Embassy Lafia (where I worship) earlier this morning.

I'm like, wow!! Exact same thing being preached in two different churches in two different states on the same day?

The text we read in church was taken from Matthew 5:13-16 and Ezekiel 33:1-9.

Our mandate as Christians is to preach the gospel, salt the lives of others, shine our light and win souls for Christ! We are set as watch men.

Remember Christ's instruction? In one word, we are to GO...! Mark 16:15-20.

Nations are for the asking... Psalm 2:8.

No more slacking! Start at your own Jerusalem (sphere of influence). Don't keep the truth & goodness of God to yourself.

May God grant us the grace and boldness we need to propagate His word!

1 Corinthians 9:26-27King James Version (KJV)

"I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

What She Told God...And His Response

"She told God she wanted to fly. To escape every limitation placed on her from birth. To soar to places unimagineable to her ancestors. To reach for the stars and land on her dreams. She told God she wanted to create. To build legacy and transform everything she touched. To inspire generations to come and to nurture the visions of prophets yet to be born. To generate change with her mere words. She told God she wanted to love and trust unconditionally. To be the answer to every prayer he had ever prayed and the manifestation of every fantasy he had convinced himself would never come to pass. To be the breath of fresh air he had never sat still long enough to take in. And God told her that eyes had not seen nor ears heard what was to come for her."

Popular Posts

In Days To Come: a collection of poem

Published 2004

The Review of "In Days To Come"

Jennifer is a remarkable young lady. Living in a country that she truly loves, yet recognizing the many problems as well. From her young mind she reaches out through her poetry hoping that her messages will reach out to educate, but even more so, to offer hope.

Jennifer does not write in rhyming verse or strict form, preferring the freedom to express her innermost thoughts without restriction. Yet poetry it undoubtedly is.

Many have struggled to define poetry, in the same way that many struggle to define art. Poetry paints with words and expressions and as such can be both art and craft.

I believe that if Jennifer’s words move you, then she has expressed both her art and her craft.

Finally, we have tried to avoid making changes to her writing, except perhaps for a few proof reading corrections. We hope by this you will capture not only the words, but (also) the essence of Jennifer’s culture that shines through her poetry.

Philip G. Bell

Editor,

Young Poet Society.

The job of the poet Is to leave stains of the storms Yet echo laughter of the light That is seen from the soul. . . . The job of the poet Is to . . .capture And to spirit and to script The pulse of life.﻿ From “Duties as Designed” in Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs, page 5. The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs

Followers

Psalm 119:9-12

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.

I surrender

show me a waya channel, a routethrough which I could reachout to this hurting worldand wipe out that tears rolling down her cheeks

I know, I knowI must tread only on that path I know wellelse I cramp my style with stinking gibberish

My wallet is flat tonightplease don't count on thatStill this urge to belongan undiluted desire to serveyearns so loudly I can hold back no more

I surrenderin total submission my heart cryHere I am, use me lover of my soulto be a helping hand in my societyto learn to give without asking for a refundto able to influence others into aiming for the bestnever to try playing god over my peersto you my king I obediently surrender.

Feedjit

Isaiah 60:1-3 (Amplified Bible)

1ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you--rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

2For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you.

3And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

He Promised...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

About Me

Jennifer is a tech savvy Journalist, a vivacious volunteer and an avid blogger who is keen about using the new media as a tool to disseminate information, collaborate and stir up progressive interaction. She is described as one of the next generation of communicators by Georgetown University’s GAIN's Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC). Jennifer currently serves as a freelance senior reporter and media trainer.
Between 2009 and 2010, she served in Washington D.C as an Atlas Corps Fellow. She was also recently granted the International Reporting Project (IRP) 2013 New Media Fellowship to report on global health and development in Nigeria.
In November 2010, she was awarded the LEAP Africa Nigerian Youth Leadership Award for her work as an outstanding Nigerian youth leader.
A graduate of Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Jennifer believes God created Youth for a purpose and thus should not be wasted in frivolity. Her published books include, “In Days To Come” (2004), "Preserving My Saltiness" (2011) and "Half a Loaf & a Bakery" (2013).
Favourite quote: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.